Ceramic pipe

ABSTRACT

A double bowl ceramic pipe wherein the pipe is constructed from a low fire porcelain composed of various clays and including talc and ground tile so that the porcelain is more porous than many of the prior art high fired porcelains and so that the pipe does not conduct heat as quickly as the ordinary high fire porcelains. The present invention also includes the use of a hollow stem member that is offset from the bowl of the pipe so that the opening into the inner bowl from the stem is on a straight line to facilitate the cleaning or clearing of the opening even during smoking. Finally, the present invention is directed to a pipe having a bit made of a flexible plastic material which bit fits over and frictionally engages the stem.

United States Patent [72] Inventor SidneyR.Witz

Los Angeles, Calif. [21] Appl.No. 791,569 [22] Filed ,1an.l6,l969 {45] Patented July20,1971 [73] Assignee Cal-WitzCorporation Los Angeles, Calif.

[54] CERAMICPIPE 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.C1 131/196,

131/230 [51] lnt.C1 A24il/22, 1 A24f1/32 [50] FieldofSearch 131/195, 196,225, 227, 228, 229, 230

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 191,385 5/1877 Thurston 131/230UX 192,123 6/1877 May l31/225X 311,469 2/1885 Chadsey... 131/196 1,461,126 7/1923 Lasure 13l/230X 1,786,179 12/1930 Trenkamp 131/196 Primary Examiner-Joseph S. Reich Atl0rneySmyth, Roston & Pavitt ABSTRACT: A double bowl ceramic pipe wherein the pipe is constructed from a low fire porcelain composed of various clays and including talc and ground tile so that the porcelain is more porous than many of the prior art high fired porcelains and so that the pipe does not conduct heat as quickly as the ordinary high fire porcelains. The present invention also includes the use of a hollow stern member that is offset from the bowl of the pipe so that the opening into the inner bowl from the stem is on a straight line to facilitate the cleaning or clearing of the opening even during smoking. Finally, the present invention is directed to a pipe having a bit made of a flexible plastic material which bit fits over and ffrictionally engages the stem.

2a 32 16 if CERAMIC PIPE The present invention is directed to a double bowl ceramic pipe including various improvements. Due to the insulation layer of air between the bowls, the outer bowl of the pipe is cooler in the hand of the smoker and the pipe itself provides a cooler smoke. The present invention incorporates various improvements in these prior art double bowl ceramic pipes.

In the past the double bowl ceramic pipes were constructed of a high fire porcelain, for example, a porcelain that would be fired at approximately 2,300 F. The present invention is directed to a double bowl ceramicpipe which is constructed ofa low fire porcelain, for example, a porcelain that is fired at approximately I,835 F. The low fire porcelain of the present invention is composed of an assortment of clays mixed with an equal amount of talc. To the preliminary mixture oftalc and clays is added ground tile which constitutes approximately 7 percent of the final mixture by weight. This composition when fired is much more porous than the ordinary porcelains used in making the ceramic pipes of the prior art. Since the ceramic pipe of the present invention is composed of porcelain which is more porous than prior art porcelains, it does not conduct heat as quickly and thereby provides for an even cooler smoke than the prior art double bowl ceramic pipe.

Other improvements in the double bowl ceramic pipe of the present invention are in the construction of the pipe to have a stem member which is offset from the bottom of the bowl. This offset allows for the opening into the inner bowl member to be on a straight line with the hollow portion of the stem. In many of the prior art double bowl ceramic pipes the hollow portion of the stem was not on a straight line with the opening into the inner bowl and it was difficult to insert a cleaning utensil through the stem and into the inner bowl. This insertion is sometimes necessary when the opening into the inner bowl becomes clogged during smoking.

Finally, the double bowl ceramic pipe of the present invention may include a simplified structure for releasably attaching the bit to the stem. The stem may be elongated and have a slight taper and with the bit fitting over the stem to have afriction fit on the stem. The bit is constructed of a flexible plastic material which has a memory in that the material hasa capacity to return to its unstretched condition and this provides for a very secure attachment of the bit on the stem. Actually, it is difficult to pull the bit off of the stem and the easiest method of removing the bit from the stem is to twist the bit while at the same time pulling the bit away fromthe stem.

The structure described above provides for a very simple means for releasably attaching the bit to the stern. As an example, the bit may be made from'a material such as nylon, vinyl or polyethylene. The preferred material is nylon since this material is quite strong while still allowing the bit to have the desired flexibility. A clearer understanding. of the present invention will be had with reference to the following description and drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the ceramic pipe of the present invention including the simplified attachment of the bit to the stem; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the invention taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

In FIG. 1 a first embodiment ofa double bowl ceramic pipe of the present invention is illustrated. The pipe 10 basically includes a double bowl structure 12, the stem 14, a shank member 16 permanently attached to the stem 14 and a bit I8 which is inserted in the shank member 16.

Ascan be seen in FIG. 2, thedouble bowl portion 12 of the pipe 10 includes an outer bowl 20 and an inner bowl 22. A layer of air 24 separates the inner andouter bowls 20 and 22. This layer of air 24 acts as an insulation layer so that the heat prior the burning of tobacco, which may be placed in the inner bowl 22, is not quickly conducted to the outer bowl member 20 and the pipe is cooler to the touch.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, an opening 26 is provided in the bottom of the inner bowl 22 so as to communicate with a hollow portion 28 at the stem M. The stem 14 is recessed as shown at position 30 from the bowl I2 so that the hollow portion 28 of the stem 14 is in a straight line with the opening 26. This allows for a cleaning utensil to be inserted through the hollow portion 28 and through the opening 26.

In order to provide for a cooler touch or feel than the prior art double bowl ceramic pipes, the present invention uses a low fire porcelain which may be fired, for example, at approximately l,835 F. as opposed to the high fire porcelains of the prior art which may be fired at approximately 2,300 F. The use of the low fire porcelain provides for a more porous porcelain structure which does not conduct the heat as quickly as the'high fire porcelain. As an example, the low fire porcelain of the present invention may be prepared by initially mixing 50 percent clay with 50 percent talc. .In order to further increase the porousness of the porcelain, ground tile may be added to the mixture of clay and talc to constitute approxi' mately 7 percent by weight of the final mixture. The ground tile is commercially available from ceramic supply houses and consists of ground-up tile of the type used for kitchens and bathrooms. This final mixture may then be fired at a low tem perature than the porcelains of the prior art double bowl ceramic pipes.

The ceramic pipe of FIGS. I and 2 also includes a necked down portion 32 of the stem 14 and the shank I6 has an inner configuration which corresponds to the outer configuration of the stern so as to tightly fit on the stem. The shank I6 may be permanently attached to the stem 14 using an adhesive. The end of the shank 16 may be flared outwardly as shown at posi tion 34 and a metal member 36 may be rolled over the end portion 34. The metal member 36 strengthens the end portion 34 so that the insertion and removal of the bit 16 does not cause rupture of the end portion 34 of the shank 16.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a second embodiment of the double bowl ceramic pipe of the present invention. Specifically in FIG. 3 there is shown a double bowl ceramic pipe which is simpler in construction than the double bowl ceramic pipe shown in FIG. l. The double bowl ceramic pipe 10 includes a double bowl structure 102, an offset stem member 104 and a bit 106. FIG. 4 illustrates in more detail a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 3 taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

In FIG. 4 the double bowl ceramic pipe 100 has an outer bowl and an inner bowl I10 separated by an air cavity or layer of air 112. As explained above with reference to the first embodiment of the invention the layer of air 112 insulates the inner bowl so that the pipe is cooler to the touch.

The stem member 104 of the pipe 100 is offset from the bowl 102 as shown at position 114. This offset is similar to the offset described with reference to the first embodiment of the double bowl ceramic pipe shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The offset of the stem 104 is provided so that the opening 116 through the stern 104 is in a straight line with an opening 118 in the inner bowl I10. This straight line is provided so that a cleaning utensil may be inserted straight through the opening I16 and into the opening 118 so that the pipe I00 may be easily cleaned.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 may also be composed of a low fire porcelain, for example, a porcelain which is fired at approximately l,835 F. may be used in preference to the prior art high fire porcelains which are fired at approximately 2,300 F. The low fire porcelain is more porous and therefore provides for cooler touch or feel. The low fire porcelain may include equal amounts of talc and clay and with ground tile added to constitute approximately 7 percent ofthe final mixture. As indicated above, this composition for the ceramic provides for a porous ceramic structure which does not conduct heat as readily as the prior art double bowl ceramic pipes.

in the embodimentof the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 i a simplified structure is shown for attaching the bit 106 to the stem 104. The stem 104 actually has a slight taper running along its length and away from the bowl and the bit 106 has one end 120 designed to fit over the stem 104. The bit 106 and specifically the portion 120 of the bit 106 is designed to have a friction fit on the stem 104. The bit 106 may be constructed of a flexible plastic material which has a memory soas to tightly encase the stem. Actually the bit 106 when pushed on the stem 104 is quitedifficult to remove and in order to facilitate the removal of the bit from the stem, in addition to being pulled.

The bit 106 may constructed of various plastic materials such as nylon, vinyl or polyethylene and in a preferred embodiment of the invention the bit is composed of nylon. The bit 106 should have a'sufficient flexibility so that a good friction fit is accomplished between the portion 120 of the bit 106 and the stem 104 but should not be so soft that the smoker can bite through the bit. Nylon provides a good compromise of the qualities that are necessary for the bit of the present invention. The embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4 of the invention is similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that both use a low fireceramic and have an offset stem to provide for a straight line through the bore of the stem and through the opening into the inner bowl of the pipe. However, the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 additionally has a simplified structure for the attachment of the bit on the stern wherein the bit fits over and frictionally engages the stem.

the bit should be twisted Although the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments it is to be appreciated that various adaptations and modifications may be made and the invention is only to be limited by the appended claims.

lclaim:

l. A ceramic pipe including a bowl member, and

a stern member integral with and extending from the bowl member and with an opening extending through the stem member and into the interior of the bowl member,

the bowl member and the integral stem member composed of a ceramic material including talc and ground tile to increase the porosity, and wherein the ceramic material is composed of talc and clay in substantially equal amounts with approximately 7 percent by weight of ground tile in the final mixture.

2. The ceramic pipe of claim 1 wherein the bowl member is formed from separate inner and outer members separated by a layer of air.

'3. The ceramic pipe of claim 1 wherein the bowl member is formed from spaced inner and outer members and with the stem member offset from the bottom of the outer member to have the opening through the stem member and the bowl member on a straight line.

4. The ceramic pipe of claim 1 additionally including a hollow bit member having one end to fit over and frictionally engage the outside of the stem member. 

1. A ceramic pipe including a bowl member, and a stem member integral with and extending from the bowl member and with an opening extending through the stem member and into the interior of the bowl member, the bowl member and the integral stem member composed of a ceramic material including talc and ground tile to increase the porosity, and wherein the ceramic material is composed of talc and clay in substantially equal amounts with approximately 7 percent by weight of ground tile in the final mixture.
 2. The ceramic pipe of claim 1 wherein the bowl member is formed from separate inner and outer members separated by a layer of air.
 3. The ceramic pipe of claim 1 wherein the bowl member is formed from spaced inner and outer members and with the stem member offset from the bottom of the outer member to have the opening through the stem member and the bowl member on a straight line.
 4. The ceramic pipe of claim 1 additionally including a hollow bit member having one end to fit over and frictionally engage the outside of the stem member. 